Sunday, June 21, 2015

Memories of Baseball and Father's Day

As we reach another Father's Day, let's take a break from discussing the
Mets' recent ups and downs (mostly downs). Today is not a day to discuss why Sandy Alderson continues to do nothing about the team's lack of offense, nor is a day to talk about how the Mets lead the league in mental errors this year. Today is a day to reflect on a special man in our lives.

He is the man who more than likely showed us how to throw our first
curveball, took us to our first ballgame and showed us the proper way
to order a ballpark hot dog (which I seem to have forgotten once prices
passed the $4.00 mark). I'm talking about fathers.

As we have had many Father's Day memories, both pleasant and not so
pleasant, the Mets and Major League Baseball have also had a number of
noteworthy moments on Father's Day. Here's a small sample:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

On Father's Day 2004 (June 20), Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey
Jr. hit the 500th home run of his career at St. Louis' Busch Stadium.
At the time, he was the youngest player to reach that milestone. Making
it more fitting, Ken Griffey Sr. was in attendance to help celebrate
his son's momentous occasion.

Nothing like a little Griffey love to get this post started.

On Father's Day 1997 (June 15), Major League Baseball instituted its first Home Run Challenge to benefit prostate cancer research.
Now in its 19th season, the Home Run Challenge has raised nearly $45 million in the hopes that a cure can be found for this devastating
disease that affects millions of men worldwide.

(Note to all men reading this. Please go to your doctors and get
checked. Early detection can save your life, enabling you to share
many Father's Day moments with your loved ones.)

Early prostate cancer detection is serious business. Even if it is a pain in the ass.

In one of the most ill-fated trades in Mets history, beloved members of the
1986 World Championship team Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell were
traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Juan Samuel on Father's Day 1989
(June 18). Samuel would have a tumultuous time playing center field
for the Mets during his short stay at Shea and was later traded for
another dud, Mike Marshall. Dykstra would become an All-Star in
Philadelphia and helped lead the Phillies to the 1993 World Series. McDowell pitched seven more seasons after the trade and would become
famous to Seinfeld fans for his role as the man who spit the magic
loogie on Kramer and Newman when they confronted Keith Hernandez after a
Mets loss.

Just as Tom Seaver's trade is known as the Midnight Massacre, this day
should be known as The Day The Hotfoot Died. On a lighter note, sales
of Jheri Curl products increased in the New York metropolitan area ... by
one.

"Let your Soul Glo..."

Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a perfect game at Shea
Stadium on Father's Day in 1964 (June 21) when he defeated the Mets by
the final score of 6-0. Bunning struck out ten batters en route to
becoming the first National League pitcher to toss a perfect game in
the 20th century and the first pitcher in the modern era to throw a
no-hitter in both leagues. He pitched his first no-hitter in 1958 as a
member of the Detroit Tigers.

Hall of Famer Jim Bunning made Shea Stadium's first Father's Day game a memorable one.

Please forgive the abundance of Phillies pictures in this post. It is
unintentional and is not meant to dampen your Father's Day festivities
in any way. If so, the photo beneath the next paragraph should bring a
smile to your face, especially if you are a long-time Mets fan.

Ralph Kiner was always the king of malapropisms. From classic
lines such as "if Casey Stengel were alive today, he'd be spinning in
his grave" and "all of his saves have come in relief appearances", Ralph mangled words and phrases with grace and dignity. One of his most
famous quotes came on Father's Day as well, when during a Mets
broadcast, he said "on Father's Day, we again wish you all a happy
birthday!"

R.I.P. Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy. You will always be missed.

One final note before you go have a catch with your son or daughter.
Mets fans are well aware of the fact that no pitcher in franchise
history had pitched a no-hitter before Johan Santana turned the trick on June 1, 2012. But prior to Santana's gem, the Mets had had several no-hitters
pitched against them, including the perfect game tossed by the aforementioned Bunning in 1964. (Let's not talk about this month's no-no by San Francisco's Chris Heston.) Before Santana accomplished his historic feat three years ago, the
Mets weren't the only team that had never pitched a no-hitter.

The only team currently without a no-hitter to its credit has also been around since the 1960s. The San
Diego Padres have played 46 years since their inaugural season in 1969
and have never had a no-hitter pitched for them. Hmm, Padres. That's
Spanish for Fathers. On that note, I can't think of a more fitting way
to end this than by wishing all you fathers out there a Happy
Birthday! (I mean, Father's Day!)

You Like Me! You Really Like Me!

The Studious Metsimus Disclaimer!

Welcome to the Studious Metsimus Disclaimer! Why even bother putting a disclaimer here? Look how far down on the page it is. Are you even reading this?

Actually, I guess you are...

Well, since you're here, this page is owned and messed around with by Ed Leyro and Joey. The opinions presented here don't really matter so if you use them, you take full responsibility for the ridicule you will receive from people.

Also, four out of five dentists recommend Trident to their patients who chew gum. However, I think that's part of another disclaimer. As you can see, I have no experience writing disclaimers. If I could get Keith Hernandez to read this, I bet that would make it look much cooler.

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